Quotes

180 quotes

There are not two kinds of dogs: nice dogs who would never bite and less nice dogs who do. Biting is natural, normal dog behavior. This is why it is so prevalent. Biting and threat displays […] are how dogs settle both minor and major disputes and defend themselves from any perceived threat they cannot or opt not to flee from.

Jean Donaldson
The Culture Clash  

In dog culture there are no letters to the editor, slanderous gossip and backstabbing, guilty feelings, democratic institutions or litigation lawyers. There are growls, snarls, snaps and bites.

Jean Donaldson
The Culture Clash  

Aggressive behavior does not fracture relationships in dog society. It's all taken very much in stride. The problem is that aggression often changes things a great deal in dog-human relationships. We routinely execute dogs who bite. That's quite the culture clash.

Jean Donaldson
The Culture Clash  

To ensure that puppies get plenty of feedback about bite strength, nature has made puppies into veritable biting machines with needle-like teeth. Normal puppies can and should play-bite continually in social interactions.

Jean Donaldson
The Culture Clash  

Under no circumstances should you attempt to punish any chewing or noise-making already committed while alone, hours or even minutes earlier. If well-timed punishment is a slippery technique, late punishment is abuse, and late punishment to a dog, who is already anxious, blenderizes the dog's remaining brain.

Jean Donaldson
The Culture Clash  

Ideal Size: Involves the weight, the height at the withers and the length of body. […] Length of body from fourteen and a quarter to fifteen inches from the front of the chest to back of hindquarters. The dog must be of balanced proportions and appear neither leggy nor too low to ground; and neither too short nor too long in body.

Breed Standard (AKC)  

[Kids] expertly simulate wounded animals and bring out the predatory rehearsal repertoire in the dog all too well. [Kids] are not good candidates to install soft mouth in excitable puppies.

Jean Donaldson
The Culture Clash  

The mental hurdle people seem to have is accepting that the dog decides what is spooky or threatening. This is a dangerous place to be anthropomorphic.

Jean Donaldson
The Culture Clash  

General Appearance: That of an active, game, hardy, small working terrier of the short-legged class; very free in its movements, strongly but not heavily built, standing well forward on its forelegs, deep in the ribs, well coupled with strong hindquarters and presenting a well-proportioned build with a medium length of back, having a hard, weather-resisting coat; head shorter and wider than any other terrier and well furnished with hair, giving a general foxy expression.

Breed Standard (AKC)